FOA Standard FOA-1

Testing Loss Of Installed Fiber Optic Cable Plant

 
This test will measure the loss of an installed fiber optic
cable plant, singlemode or multimode, including the loss of Test Diagram
all fiber, splices and connectors.
Equipment Needed To Perform This Test
1. Test source appropriate for the fiber being tested
(Multimode: 850 and/or 1300nm LED, singlemode,
1310 and/or 1550 nm laser)
2. Optical power meter calibrated at the same
wavelengths as the source output.
3. Launch and receive reference cables of the same
fiber type and size as the cable plant and have
connectors compatible to those on the cable plant.
They should be tested per FOA-2 to ensure they are
in good condition.
4. Mating adapters compatible to connectors
5. Cleaning supplies
Test Procedure
1. Turn on equipment and allow time to warm-up Setting “0 dB” Reference
2. Attach launch cable to source. This should remain
connected to source for the duration of the test. 1 Cable Reference
3. Clean all connectors and mating adapters.
4. Set “0 dB” reference using method shown to the
right. Meter may be set to read “0 dB.”
5. Attach source/ref cable and meter/ref cable to the
cable plant under test and make loss measurement.
Options For “0 dB Reference” - Set Before Testing
1. Use the “1 Cable Reference” if connectors are the
same on the cable plant as the testers and
reference cables or may be adapted using hybrid
adapters. 2 Cable Reference
2. Use the “2 Cable Reference” if connectors are not
the same on the cable plant as the testers but can
be mated to each other with adapters and hybrid
reference cables are being used.
3. Use the “3 Cable Reference” if connectors are
plug/jack styles and reference cables are both
ended in either plugs or jacks.
Reducing Measurement Uncertainty
1. Clean all connectors regularly before and while
testing. 3 Cable Reference
2. Use modal control on launch cable, e.g. small loop
on SM fiber or mandrel wrap on MM fiber.
3. Check “0 dB Reference” periodically during testing.
4. 4. Periodically check reference cables per FOA-2 to
verify their condition.
Documentation
Record the date of the test, operator, test equipment used,
reference method, cable and fiber identification, test
wavelength and measured loss.

© 2012, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc. Cable plant loss FOA-1a.doc, 11/15/14, 1